The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-21
The Minimum Chris tian.

The minimum Christian! And who is he
The Christian who is going to heaven at tht
cheapest and easiest rate possible The Chris
tian who purposes to get all out of the world
that he can and not meet the worldling':
doom. The Christian who aims to have a:
little religion as he can without being destl
tute of it altogether. The minimum Chris
tian generally goes to church in the morniug
unless he is too tired with his weekday
labors and has lain in bed too late on Sunday
morning to get ready for the morning ser
vice: In that case he will attend in the after
noon or evening, unless it is likely to rain, OF
is too warm or too cold, he feels too sleepy OF
has the headache He listens respectfully tc
the minister and joins in prayer and praise
He anr!.::cs the truth often to bis neighbor
rarely to himself. If there is lecture in the
week he goes L quite convenient, but rarely
attends the prayer-mee.:..s, 3S the latter i
apt to be uninteresting. He feels it his duty
to be present on communion Sabbath, and
has family prayer at least once day, unless
business presses him too urgently.
The minimum Christian is friendly to all
good works; he wishes them we'll, but it Is
not in his power to do much for them. The
Sabbath-school he looks upon as an admlra-
bile institution, especially for the young, the
neglected and the ignorant. 1t is not conVen-
lent. however, for him to take class or at
tend very regularly. His business engage
ments are so pressing during the week that
he needs Sabbath as day Of rest; nor does
he think himself qualified to be a teacher.
There are so many persons better qualified
for this iriippvti cant duty that he must beg tc
be excused. He is in favor Of the visitation
of the poor, but he has no time to take part
in these labors of love. He thinks it good
II, 70 fol ri tba
meetings of the church, but no has no gift
for public prayers or for making addresses
(unless the subject be business or politics.,
md he must leave it to others. He is friendly
to home and foreign missions, and gives his
''mite," but he thinks there ere too many ap-
peals: still be gives, or he will lose his repu-
tation.
The minimum Christian is not clear on
some points relating to Christian conduct.
The circus and dancing, the theatre and card
playing give him considerable trouble. He
cannot see the harm in this, or that, or other
popular amusements He says there is moth
ing in the Bible directly against it. He does
not see but that u man may be Christian
and go to the theatre or to the ballroom. He
knows several people who do go, and mem
bers of the church, too. Why should not hel
In short. the minimum Christian knows
that he cannot serve God and mammon; he
would if he could, and he will come just as
near to doing so as he can, for he thinks it
best not to be righteous overmuch." He
will give to himself and the world all that he
NAV, and to God and His cause as little as he
can, and yet not lose his soul. He stands so
close to the dividing-line between the people
of God and the people Of the world that it is
hard to say on which side of it he actually is.
ALI my brother arc you making this at
tempt! Beware, lest you find at last, in try
ing to get to heaven with as little religion as
possible, that you have missed it altogether
lest without gaining the whole world, you
have lost your own soul. Would it not be
wise and better and happier to make sure OF
minimum Christian?-[Rev John w. DulleS